Importance of Spirituality in drug rehab
Do you need to believe in God to begin your journey of drug rehab?
First, we have to realize the social persona of an addict. While studies have proven that alcohol and drug addiction is a disease, some are still associating addiction with immorality. Naturally, the addict has a hard time opening up about his problems due to the fear of getting judged.
This hinders self-respect and addicts need something more than just drug rehab to regain their lost self-worth. This is where spirituality comes in. Here we take a look at how spirituality can help you in your journey to drug rehab:
Realization of something larger than yourself
Addiction does more emotional damage than physical nature. It is essential for the addicts to believe that there is a higher power much bigger than all of them which has different plans for them. This would give them the strength to fight the demons inside them that have led to diminished self-worth.
The addicts start losing touch with their true self and start looking at themselves through the eyes of society. It is only a matter of time when they begin feeling unhappy, isolated and empty.
However, with spirituality, we can face the darkest parts of our soul.
Connect to life outside of you
When a person is addicted to a substance, his whole life is surrounded by it. It starts from acquiring that drug, taking that drug, spending time under the influence and craving it again until it all becomes an endless cycle. These individuals eventually become unattached to the outside world, and they tend to treat these uncomfortable feelings with more drugs of their preferred choice.
Since spirituality is about connecting to one’s surroundings and to all the living things, it gives them the desire to look beyond themselves. This is why having healthy interpersonal relationships with our friends and being deeply connected to others has been associated with good health and mental well being.
Gives a sense of purpose
Abraham Maslow had beautifully said that having a purpose in life and feeling of connectedness is equally important as food and shelter. When certain needs aren’t met, a person may act out in desperation and often turn to alcohol and drugs.
Most of the people suffer from addiction only because they had a feeling of emptiness and lack of meaning in their lives. Spiritual people believe that they are a part of this enormous universe to serve a purpose which gives their life a whole new meaning.
Holistic Programs
Many Holistic Programs that are associated with Alcohol and Drug rehab take a spiritual approach by treating the mind, body, and spirit of the individual. These programs are based on the belief that there might be many psychological reasons as to why an individual takes up alcohol or other drugs. It could be to relieve physical pain, mental health issues or even spiritual emptiness and lack of purpose.
Since any one of these areas (mind, body, and spirit) can have profound effects on each other, a program concentrating on all three areas has the best chance to work. This is the ideology behind holistic programs which also incorporate therapies like Yoga, Meditation, and Prayer Sessions to name a few.
These few points enlighten us on the role of Spirituality on our journey to recovery.
Although religious people might find it easy to turn to spirituality as a coping mechanism, it remains a massive task for atheists and agnostics. However, there is a vast difference between religion and spirituality in particular even though they are often associated with each other. While religion might be defined as a set of beliefs regarding God, spirituality, in particular, has nothing to do with it.
Spirituality can be defined as the recognition of a power higher than the all of us which has its roots in love and compassion. It gives us a sense of purpose, a meaning to our lives and the desire to connect with everything around us.